Aran cardigans are amongst the most iconic of Irish clothing, even though they didn’t become fashionable until the last century.
Aran Cardigan
Aran Islands
The Aran Cardigan and its faithful cousin the Aran Sweater originates from the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland. Sometimes known as the fisherman’s sweater, these where traditionally made for their durability, warmth and ability to withstand the cruel weather that the islanders faced. Originally they were knit from unscoured wool, which retained the natural oils (lanolin) making the aran cardigan water resistant. This meant that the aran sweater or cardigan could be worn even when wet.
Aran cardigans often contain patterns of cable design. Some stitch patterns have a traditional interpretation, often of religious significance. The honeycomb is a symbol of the hard-working bee. The cable, an integral part of the fisherman’s daily life, is said to be a wish for safety and good luck when fishing. The diamond is a wish of success, wealth and treasure. The basket stitch represents the fisherman’s basket, a hope for a plentiful catch.
Traditionally the cardigans are knit with patterns running in columns down the chest.This then follows through to the sleeves, all running symmetrical to the center axis. This style has now been extended to socks, hats, scarves and gloves.
Aran Cardigan Wool
I adore Aran Cardigans so I though I’d create ths blog to celebrate them. If you have a passion for this iconic irish clothing get in touch, I’d love to hear from you.